Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - polishing hubs/cranks

Is there any suggested compound for polishing bike components? Looks like the Aerohead rims I ordered will finally be coming in after a three week wait and I want my hubs and cranks looking polished and new at least for a quick set of photos before I start riding the bike into the ground.

I got sent to military school for about 2 years and we shined belt buckles, ranks, and other metal items that had a slightly matte finish with brasso on cardboard. It takes a crapload of elbow grease, but it would look like a mirror.

It doesn't neccessarily have to be "so clean I could eat off of it" glossy and clean; I'd be satisfied with a NOS kind of polish to it. I'll keep brasso in mind, thanks.

I always use Flitz. Everybody agrees "That s#it turns conduit to chrome!" I also have a polishing kit from Harbor Freight Tools that came with 2 different compounds and buffing wheels for a power drill. Works like a charm.

I install hub polishers on all my bikes with Al hubs.
I make them from old leather toe straps and a small reflector.
All the cool kids had them when I was growing up.
They sound cool too.

Enjoy

I may be wrong, but I think that polishing only works on bare aluminium and not on anything anodised. Sometimes bike bits (especially rims) are silver or clear anodised rather than being left as bare aluminium so you might want to check that first.

i hear good things about simichrome

Simichrome is absolutely amazing... shines things like a mirror.

I heard that brasso would leave a dull coating on aluminium alloys, it's supposed to work best on brass, so might want to check on that.

We had anodized ranks in school (they were gold anodized and doing the brasso trick turned them silver). Plus if there was a haze left on it, it was just because there was still brasso on it. However, it looks like there are better ways to shine your hubs and cranks.

i used noxon? to clean my old steel rims and they shine like mirrors did nuh'n to my alum components as they dont rust or corrode- aluminum requires a buffing wheel, compound (red?) and some tlc- emery cloths giong from coarser to smooth? brasso is called brasso for a reason ask the kids in rotc. oh, get them clear coated b4 you do anything other than a quick wipe down w/ a clean lint free rag. check pepboys.

brasso is called brasso for a reason ask the kids in rotc.
Not to get in a huge pissing match, but if you look on the container, it lists the various metals and surfaces on which it will work (I even used it on my ipod).

Now to apply for a position with their company as a sales rep...

Not to get in a huge pissing match, but if you look on the container, it lists the various metals and surfaces on which it will work (I even used it on my ipod).

Now to apply for a position with their company as a sales rep...
oops:eek: my mistake- i stand corrected. i havent seen a container in years, sorry.

I heard that brasso would leave a dull coating on aluminium alloys, it's supposed to work best on brass, so might want to check on that.

most metal polish compounds specifically say not to use them on aluminum. Including Brasso, (just read the back of the can) I found these [url="http://www.capecodpolish.ca/"]Cape Cod Metal Polishing Cloths[/a] and they work pretty well, but nothing works as good as a buffing wheel on a metal grinder.

Mothers mag wheel polish.

It will make chrome into a mirror... and aluminum flash like chrome.

Mothers mag wheel polish.

It will make chrome into a mirror... and aluminum flash like chrome.

this is exactly what i was just going to recommend. used it on my pista hubs before i laced them up, and they look gorgeous. think you can find it at most auto shops like pep boys, auto zone etc...

wipe some on a lint free rag and scrub away

i use ky jelly to polish my crank